Tag: Septic Pumping Cost in 98674

Septic systems are most often found in rural areas of 98674 and will consist of a series of pipes connecting it to the home, a septic tank, a filtering system to separate the solid waste from the liquid and connecting pipes that drain off the liquid waste into the yard, in a designated area called the drain field. These systems are often inspected before septic installation and tested afterwards, to make sure that it is operating properly.

Ownership of a septic tank system in 98674 means that everyone understands the importance of having regular septic tank inspection and septic pumping to catch potential problems before they happen. All too often, nothing is done until the worst happens, like the tank developing a leak, or it backs up into an area away from the drain field. Two easy ways to avoid this from happening include monitoring what goes into it as waste and remembering its physical location to avoid accidents.

When there is a septic system installation, the area where the septic tank is placed should be noted so that no accidental driving or parking of a heavy vehicle can occur. While most tanks are buried deep enough to avoid this, as a general principle it should be avoided to prevent damage to the tank in the future.

What are the health department regulations for a Septic Tank in 98674?

So you have realized that your septic tank is an important part of your property but how exactly do you maintain it? Much like a car, a little maintenance will go a long way towards the life system. Follow these steps to properly maintain your septic system.
1. Locate Your Tank
While this may seem obvious, finding your septic tank is a little more difficult than what many think. They are buried deep underground and if your house has any age to it there is probably no visible signs as to where your system could be. If you happen to have a basement you can go down and follow your sewer lines out the wall to give you an idea as to where your septic tank might be buried. Otherwise, leave it to the professionals to locate it. They have special tools like an insulated piping they stick deep into the ground to find your tank and all its's components. Once located make sure you mark it in some way for future reference.
2. Uncover the Manhole and Inspection Ports
More than likely the man hole and inspection ports on your septic tank are buried down with the tank itself. This will require some digging at might be wise to replace with elevated access covers or risers for future inspectors to easily locate your system.
3. Check Your Connections
Since you are already going to all this trouble to check your septic tank system it would be wise to go ahead and check all your plumbing as well. This can be easily done by flushing toilets, running water in faucets, or running a load through the washer to make sure all your plumbing connections are working properly and flowing through your tank.
4. Measure the Scum and Sludge Layers
Now we're to the nitty gritty. Let us preface by saying you should NOT do this your self. Allow a trained inspector measure your septic tank system. It can be very dangerous to try and do this without training. Inserting a tool through the inspection port, the inspector will measure your tank and see where your levels of scum and sludge lay. This will also include a visual inspection of these levels.
If the sludge depth is equal to 1/3 the liquid depth your septic tank is in need of a pumping. If the tank is 1/3 full in general it also will need to be pumped. It is highly advised to pump your system when the inspector recommends; like mentioned in previous posts a little work now will greatly increase the life of the tank and save you a lot of time and money.
**WORD OF CAUTION**
As mentioned above, ONLY allow a trained professional inspect your septic tank. This is a tank full of waste; toxic gases created by the natural process in the tank can kill in MINUTES. Merely looking down into the tank can be hazardous to your health.
5. Checking your Septic Tank and It's Drainfield
After checking the scum and sludge layers of the tank the inspector will check for any cracks in the walls and drainfield for any signs of failure. If there are any additional pieces of equipment with your septic tank system, such as a distribution box, drop box, or pump, he will inspect these as well. After a thorough inspection the inspector will give you his recommendation as to what you should do to properly maintain your septic tank.
PUMPING TIPS
If you need to pump your septic tank it is very important that you hire a professional licensed contractor. There are many things that could be damaged in the process of pumping your tank, such as the contractor using the inspection port instead of the manhole to pump out the waste. It is recommended to be present at the time the contractor is pumping your tank. Since you are spending all the time and money on getting your tank cleaned, make sure that he pumps it ALL. You do not need to have anything in your septic tank to restart the process inside the tank, nor do you need to scrub or clean the inside of the septic tank.
This is the single most important thing you can do for your system. If it gets too full solids can move to the drainfield causing clogging and a whole "heap" of other problems.
Septic tank is a necessity in every household when there is no available centralized community wastewater treatment especially in the rural areas. Septic is where all the wastewater from the household runs into before it is drained in the environment. Maintaining and taking care of your septic system is not difficult because the modern design of septic tank system functions efficiently. There is however few guidelines you need to follow in order to keep your tank functioning effectively for a long time. Here are some tips to have a trouble-free tank system.
First, you must not allow the rainwater coming from the roof gutters to be diverted at the drainfield. A wet drainfield may no longer absorb and neutralize the effluent liquid from the septic system. The drainfield must be kept dry at most times because that is where the liquid from the septic system goes. You must plan your landscaping by planting grass on top of the drainfield. They will help absorb the excess water when the drainfield becomes soggy. Just make sure that the grasses will not have roots that can reach the lateral pipes to prevent going through the perforations. Additionally, keep trees away from the septic system. The roots of the trees can damage the pipes and the septic tank itself.
Second, you must avoid overloading the septic tank by reducing excessive use of water. Check your faucets of any leaks and repair at once. You can also use aerators on faucets and flow reducer nozzles on bathroom showers to lessen the consumption of water. When doing your laundry reduce the water levels especially for small loads. If you will run the dishwasher wait until it is full. Do not use the dishwasher for small dishes so you'll prevent using water often. Reduce the amount of water needed to flush the toilet by using displacer. You will not only overload the septic tank system but you can also save water.
Third, do not make your toilets as garbage disposal. Avoid flushing disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, paper towels, facial tissue, coffee ground, cigarette butts and filters. They will fill your septic tank system because some of these items are not biodegradable. They will also clog your septic tank system in less time and may pose bigger problems. Wise use of garbage disposal must be practiced. The amount of garbage that is added in the septic system can pile up and make it fail. Choose a top of the line garbage grinder so foods will be ground into tiny particles before it is disposed to the septic system. In this way it will be easier for the septic system to digest it.
Minimize the use of heavy cleaners and products with anti bacterial ingredients because this will kill the beneficial bacteria in the septic tank. The natural bacteria are the one that help in the digestion process of the wastewater in breaking down the solids turning it into liquid effluents. Additionally, avoid pouring hazardous chemicals, varnish, paints, thinner, gasoline, motor oils and other chemicals that may not only ruin the septic system but is also dangerous to the environment.

Why Does My Septic Tank Need A Scheduled Septic System Inspection?

If you live in a city or town you probably take your local municipal sewer system for granted. If you are moving out of said city or town to a more rural setting chances are you will need to have a septic tank system. In simple terms this means that all your waste water and sewage waste is treated right on your property instead of flowing down to the local waste water treatment plant. While this may not sound very sanitary there is nothing to worry about because septic tanks have been in use for many years. In fact nearly 25% of all homes in the U.S. use septic tank systems.
A septic tank system is a very simple structure, but for all its simplicity it is very efficient at what it does. The tank itself can be anywhere from one thousand gallons or higher and is usually placed a good distance away from the house. The main sewer pipe from the house is attached to one end of the septic tank while another pipe exits the far side and is buried in what is called the leech field.
The liquid and solid waste enters the first chamber in septic tank through the pipe connected to your house. The solids are trapped in this first chamber and are broken down by anaerobic bacteria. This reduces the amount of solid waste in the septic system allowing the liquid wastes to flow into the second chamber which then flows out the end pipe and into the leech or septic field. In most cases this is all accomplished with the help of gravity as we all know that poop flow downhill. In some cases the septic tank cannot be placed downhill from the house so a pump will need to be used in order for the system to work properly.
The liquid waste that flows into the leech field is relatively benign and will create a nutrient rich growing area. Any plants growing over it will thrive and many septic fields can be located just by finding the patch of land that is greener then the surrounding area.
As efficient as a septic tank system is there will always be solid waste that is not fully decomposed. This will eventually fill up the septic tank and require that you contact a septic tank cleaning service to pump out your system. Worst case would be to have this done every year but most systems can go up to two years before needing to be cleaned out. Properly taken care of a septic tank system will do its job efficiently with few problems to worry about.
The care and improvement of septic-tank systems is shrouded with a lot of myths that are the same the world over. Many people just seem to imagine that the septic tanks can just go on for years without them being evacuated.
It is just common knowledge that the longer the septic-tanks are left without them being taken care of, the harder the job will be due to the hardened sludge that had built up over the years. This is no small matter, and it might even require somebody to go in and dig it up eventually. Ordinarily, the good care of these tanks require that they are serviced annually for them to be emptied and cleaned well. It is the only way they can remain in good working condition.
Proper maintenance of the tanks system is necessary so that you can save costs in the long run and save you the headache of too much work if the tank fills up or gets blocked.
Another mistaken notion is that the home owner is not liable if the septic tank overflows. It should be clearly stated here that the sole responsibility for proper maintenance of the sewer tank lies squarely on the shoulders of the property owner.
The property owner remains liable in all issues pertaining to septic-tanks and that include things like blockage, overflow, and environmental impact and these will never be dealt with by the councils. The only time you will find the council comes into such issues will be when the landlord allows the septic tank to overflow to the extent of causing an environmental concern.
It is also a fallacy to think reason that your tank fully treats the sewage. Part of the sewer treatment process happens when the liquid waste enters the soil by way of what is known as soak-away. It reduces the bacteria in the tank, affluent and separates the solid waste that in turn will continue to accumulate in the tank until it is removed.
Lastly, it should also be understood that it is not everything that can be put into the septic tank. There are issues of harsh detergents plus other chemicals being put liberally into the septic tank. It has been proven that things like fats, other oils and solid things should not be allowed to go into it because they can interfere with the smooth running of a septic-tank. All these points should be observed to the letter, not unless you want to be given constant visits by a company. If these recommendations are overlooked, the result will be that general maintenance for unblocking or repairs can be extremely exorbitant.